Deciding if you want to go to Paris vs. Rome, can be a hard decision to make.
You only have time to visit one, so what do you do? Well you can’t go wrong with either choice as they both have amazing sights, mouth-watering food, delicious wine, and plenty of activities to keep you busy.
We understand it’s a nearly impossible choice picking either Rome or Paris above the other is not an easy task.
Let us help!
Here is what we look at when choosing to travel to Paris vs. Rome.
Paris Vs. Rome: Reasons To Choose Paris
See Amazing Art
With art museums like The Louvre and Musee d’Orsay, Paris is a great spot to see some of the most amazing art in the world.
There is so much art to see besides just t world-famous museums that we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of all Paris has to offer. The city is filled with dozens of art museums to explore. It is an art lover’s dream!
With just a 20 minute walk along the Seine from one another, you could easily see both one day.
It’s a Walkable City
One of the best things about Paris is that you can easily walk to your destinations. Occasionally getting to your next spot may require a subway ride, but nowhere you want to reach as a tourist will be difficult to access.
You can easily plan your trip around having to use any public transportation as Paris’ best sights are typically close together.
Wandering around each neighborhood to fall in love with the food and the architecture is one of the best things you could do while in Paris. Each area or neighborhood holds its individual style and vibe. From the Latin Quarter to Montmartre, there is plenty to see and do while exploring and walking Paris.
Admire Views Looking Over the City
As Paris has one of the most iconic skylines in the world, it also has countless places to admire the views it boasts. Get your fill of the Eiffel Tower view from various angles from parks, rooftop bars, or Ferris wheel – you name it. There are endless places available all over Paris for all budgets and styles.
Where To Stay in Paris
One of the best things about traveling in Paris is that things are so close to each other that even if you want to stay in any area, as long as you are close to a metro station, you will easily be able to get anywhere within the city.
Like any city, luxury hotels are typically closer to the center of the city, while budget travelers can find good deals further from the center.
If you’re looking to save a bit on lodging on your trip to Paris, the best thing you can do is try and schedule your visit outside of the summer months, as this is known to be a high tourist season and hotel prices are often cheaper in fall and winter.
Related: 5 best day trips form Rome.
Paris Vs. Rome: Reasons To Choose Rome
To Experience the History of the Roman Empire.
The Roman Empire’s history is well known, as at one point it stretched across most of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. One of the best parts about Rome is that you can see much of the remaining history still in the city.
Sites like the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill–are just a few of the amazing sites you can walk through in Rome.
Both Paris and Rome have impressive cathedrals and a deep history with Catholicism, of course, but when it comes to touring Catholic sights, you just can’t really top the Vatican.
Immerse yourself in the archaeological sights.
If Paris is the city of art, Rome is the city of archaeology: archaeological sites like the Colosseum and Roman Forum are located right in the middle of the city center, just begging to be admired from all angles.
Eat all the Italian food.
While you can’t go wrong with French food. We LOVE Italian food.
So while it may be a tiny bit biased, if you’re like us and are obsessed with Italian pasta and pizza, Rome is the place for you.
Not to mention, you can have amazing desserts like Gelato and Cannoli!
It May Be Cheaper
Paris and Rome are both iconic, incredible cities that rank among the foremost touristic cities within the world–in other words, neither one is strictly cheap.
However, if budget could be a concern, Rome is slightly cheaper than Paris, particularly when it involves lodging.
Related: 4-day itinerary in Rome.
Where to Stay in Rome
Deciding where to stay in Rome depends on what you’re specifically looking for. Do you want to be in a cute local neighborhood? Do you want to be closer to the tourist activities? Or are you looking to save money and use the metro to get around?
For us, we choose what has the best value and how easy it is to get to the activities we want to do. For example, as a rule of thumb, we choose a location that is either walkable to most of the things we have planned or a metro stop that is within a 5-10 minute walk.
Having a metro in close proximity to your hotel, allows you to visit all the places of Rome regardless of where you are. Rome is a city that is easy to get around in and we think you’ll end up happy with most any location in Rome.
Here is a guide to the train system in Italy.
If Time Permits, don’t decide Paris vs, Rome, visit both!